Coin operated time switch



April 19, 1932. F. c. GALLAND 1,854,185

com OPERATED TIM swmcn Filed June 6, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Apr. 19,5 1932 UNITED STATES FRANK C. GALLAND, OF BIG CREEK, CALIFORNIA COIN OPERATED TIME SWITCH Application filed June 6, 1930. Serial No. 459,581.

My invention relates to electric time switches and more particularly to coin operated time switches. Such switches are now available by which a person may obtain service of gas, electricity, radio entertainment, and-the like, by the insertion of a coin into a switch mechanism, after which the mechanism is operable to deliver the desired service for a predetermined time.

It is highly advantageous to provide means incorporated in such a time switch by which the service may be interrupted at any desired time and continued at will. This feature obviates the inconvenience of a patron being forced to use the service equivalent to the full value of his deposited coin without interruption.

It is therefore an important object of my invention to provide a coin operated time switch by which the above mentioned service may be obtained for a predetermined length of time, subject to the operation of a timing mechanism, but which may be manually interrupted at any desired time.

It is another object of my invention to provide an electric circuit having a timing mechanism, and a switch connected in series therein, thetiming mechanism being oper-. able only when the switch and the circuit areclosed, and to provide means operated by the timing mechanism for opening the switch at a predetermined time and also manually operated means for opening and closing the switch to interrupt and continue the operation of the timing mechanism.

These and other objects will be apparent from a perusal of the following specification, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings,

'Figs. 1 and 2 are side elevational views partially sectioned, showing the timing mechanism and the fluid switchof the invention in two different extreme positions.-

the

manually operable switch controlling device, taken as indicated by the line 1-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section showing a portion of the timing mechanism and the switch 5 opening mechanism operated by the timing mechanism, taken as indicated by the line 55 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are horizontal fragmentary sections taken as indicated by the lines 66, 77, and 88 respectively of Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is a wiring diagram showing the electric circuit of the invention.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings, I show this embodiment of my invention as including a horizontal base 10 to which is secured at the leftward or forward end thereof'a vertically extending flanged plate 11. The plate'll and the base 10 cooperate to support the working mechanism of my invention. A removable housing having a top wall 12, side walls 13, and one end wall 14, is adapted to .be positioned relative to the base 10 and the plate 11 so as to completely enclose the working mechanism.

Supported forwardly by the plate 11 and rearwardly by brackets 15, which extend upwardly from the base 10, is apair of horizontally extending frame members 16 and 17'. The frame members 16 and 17 are relatively spaced to provide a horizontal channel 18 Extending horizontally through the front plate 11 is a controlrod 19. The rod 19 is T-shaped in cross section and is adapted to be slidably supported in the channel 18, as shown, with the head portion 20 of the T- shaped rod 19 resting on the upper surfaces 21 of the frame members 16 and 17, and the vertical leg portion 22 thereof extending downwardly into the channel 18. The outer end of the control rod 19 is provided with a knob 23 for the manual manipulation thereof, and at the extreme rearward end of the rod 19 there is provided an upwardly opening slot The bottom wall of the slot 24 isarcuate and corresponds to the radius of a coin intended for use in this particular embodiment of my invention.

Directly above and-axially parallel with 199 the control rod is a timing rack member 30. The rack member is T-shaped in cross section and is provided with an upwardly facing rack 31. The member 30 is supported similarly to the control rod 19 by ways 33. The ways 33 are supported directly above the frame members 16 and 17, and relatively spaced therefrom, by plates 35, which plates are secured to the frame members 16 and 17 and the ways 33 by screw means in the manner shown clearly in Fig. 3.

Carried by bracket members which extend upwardly from the base 10 is a timing mechanism generally designated by the numeral 41. It should be understood that I do not wish to limit myself to any particular type of timing device, but I have indicated in connection with this embodiment a device easily obtainable on the market, such as is used in commercial electric clocks.

Secured to a rotatable shaft journalled at 46 and 47 in the bracket members 40 is a drive pinion 48. The pinion 48 is adapted to mesh with the rack 31 when the slidable rack member 30 is in a position rightward of that position shown in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 3, the shaft 45 also carries a gear 50 which is freely rotatable thereon. The gear 50 has a hub 50a providing a recess 51.

Keyed to the hub 50a within the recess 51, so as to be axially slidable relative to the hub 50a of the gear 50, is a ratchet 51a. The ratchet is freely rotatable relative to the shaft 45 and is engaged by a pin 52 projecting from the shaft 45. The ratchet 51a is forced into engagement with the pin 52 by a compression spring 53 carried by the shaft 45 between the ratchet 51a and an integral shoulder 53a formed on the shaft 45.

The gear 50 meshes with a pinion 55 se cured to a shaft 56 extending from a reduction gear box 57 associated with the drive means included in the timing mechanism 41.

At the extreme leftward end of the rack member 30 is a downwardly opening slot 60,

the upper wall 61 of which is arcuate to correspond to the radius of a coin, as above mentioned in connection with the slot 24 in the control rod 19.

A coin slot 63 formed by a pair of mating plates 64 and 65 is supported by the front plate 11 in such a manner that the delivery end 66 of the coin slot 63 will deliver a coin 67 into a recess formed by the cooperating slots 24 in the rod 19 and the slot 60 in the rack member 30 when each of these slidable members is in its extreme leftward position, as shown in Fig.1. The coin 67 is held against further downward movement, as shown clearly in Fig. 1, by frictional engagement with the wall of the slot 24 and the wall 61 of the slot 60.

Extending vertically downward from the frame member 17 near the forward end thereof is a leg 70. At a point rearwardly of the leg 70 one of the plates 35 is extended down wardly to form a leg 71.

Pivotally supported upon the lower end of the leg 70 at a point 72 intermediate its ends is an arm 73. Similarly pivoted to the lower end of the leg 71 as at 74 is an arm 75. Supported between the adjacent ends of the arms 73 and 7 5 by pin and slot connections 76 and 77 is a thermoid or mercury switch generally designated by the numeral 78. The switch 78 comprises a body portion 79 of insulating material through which conductors 80 and 81 extend. Contacts 82 and 83, to which the conductors 80 and 81 are connected, extend through the wall 85 of a fluid chamber 86. The chamber 86 is adapted to contain a suflicient portion of a conducting fluid, such as mercury, so that when the chamber 86 is in a horizontal position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, the contacts 82 and 83 will be bridged by the conducting fluid and complete the circuit in which the conductors 82 and 83 are included.

It will be seen that when the chamber 86 is disposed at an angle less than horizontal, the conducting fluid does not bridge the contacts 82 and 83, and the electric circuit is broken.

Pivoted to the outer end of the arm 73 is a vertically extending push rod 90. The push rod 90 extends upwardly above the plane of the frame members 16 and 17 and is retained in a vertical position by a flanged guide strip 91 secured in spaced relationship to the frame member 17 by screw means,.as shown in Figs.

7 and 8. Surrounding the push rod 90 is a compression spring 92 which exerts a resilient downward force upon the outer end of the arm 73. Rotatably carried upon the up per end of the push rod 90 is a cam roller 95. The cam roller 95 is adapted to engage the upper surface 96 of the head portion of the T-shaped control rod 19 and to frictionally roll thereon when movement is imparted to the control rod 19. This upper surface 96 of the control rod 19 comprises a switch operating cam surface and is provided at its inner end with a low spot 97 into which the roller 95 drops when the control rod 19 is in its extreme outward position, as shown in Fig. 1.

Pivoted to the outer end of the arm 75 is a vertically extending push rod 100. The push rod, similarly to the push rod 90, is retained by the guide strip 91 and is normally forced downwardly by a compression spring 101.

The push rod 100 extends upwardly above 1 the plane of the slidable rack member 30. Rotatably carried at the upper end of the push rod 100 is a cam roller 102. The cam roller 102 is adapted to engage the upper surface 103 of the head portion of the T- shaped rack member 30 and to roll frictionally thereon. The upper surface 103 of the rack member 30 comprises a switch opening cam surface which is provided at its rear lUZ) ward end with a low spot 104 into which the cam roller 102 drops when the rack member 30 is in its extreme forward position, as shown in Fig. 1.

A Wiring diagram of a suitable electric circuit for the operation of my invention is shown in Fig. 9. Therein I show conductors 80 and 81 leading from opposite sides of a supply circuit 105, to form a circuit 106. The conductor 80 is connected to one side of the mercury switch 78, while the conductor 81 forming the other side of the circuit 106 is connected to the other side of the mercury 'switch 78. Connected in parallel in the circuit 106 is a synchronous motor 107 comprising the drive means of the timing mechanism 41. Also connected in parallel by conductors 108 and 109 are an incandescent lamp- 110 and a resistor 111. Conductors 112 and 113 are connected respectively to conductors 80 and 81 of the circuit 106 and are adapted to be connected to an appliance not shown.

The operation of my invention is as follows hen it is desired to obtain the service of an appliance, for delivering gas, electricity, radio, etc., the control rod 19 is pulled outwardly its extreme distance. A coin is then inserted in the slot '63 and the control rod 19 movement to the drive means 107 included in" the timing mechanism 41 due to the pin 52, riding in a reverse direction upon the oneway ratchet 51a.

It will be seen from an inspection of Figs. 1 and 2 that the cam rollers 95 and 102 will simultaneously ride upward on their respective cam surfaces 96 and 103. The arms 73 and 75 will assume the positions indicated in solid lines in Fig. 2. At this time the fluid chamber 86 of the mercury switch is still reposing in an angular position, and the conducting fiuid is not bridging the contacts 82 and 83; consequently, the circuit 106 has not been closed and the drive means 107 included in the timing mechanism has not been energized.

When the rack member 30 has been forced into its extreme rightward position, as indi,

cated in Fig. 2, the control rod 19 may be pulled outwardly in the direction opposite to' that of the arrow 120 until the roller 95 again drops into the low spot 97 on the cam surface 96. This will cause the arm 73' and the switch 78 to assume the position shown in dottedlines130 in Fig.2. It will be noted that the fluid chamber 86 is then in a truly horizontal position; consequently, the conducting fluid has bridged the contacts 82 and 83, closing the circuit 106 and energizing the drive means 107 of thetiming mechanism and the lamp 110. The lamp 110 affords visible indication that the timing mechanism 41 is in operation whenever the circuit 106 is closed.

The rack member 30 will now be driven in a leftward direction by the pinion 48 and will assume its extreme leftward position in a predetermined time subject to the operation of the timing mechanism 41. When the rack 30 reaches its extreme leftward position, it will be seen that the cam roller 102 will again drop into the low spot 104 on the cam surface 103 and the switch 78, and the arms 73 and 75 will again assume the respective positions shown in Fig. 1.

In order to overcome frictional losses and thus obviate the possibility of the timing mechanism becoming inaccurate due to overload, and also to force the rack member 30 from a position where it is disengaged from the pinion 48 into its extreme leftward position shown in Fig. 1, I provide a tension spring 115 which is connected between an arm 116, secured to the frame member 17 and a pin 117, projecting downwardly from the rightward end of the rack member 30.

In the event that the patron using the appliance desires to discontinue the operation thereof before he has received the full value of his deposited coin, he may again press the control rod in the direction of the arrow 120, causing the cam roller 95 to ride upwardly upon the-cam surface 96 and causing the arm 73 and the switch 78 to again assume the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2. The mechanism may remain in this position as long as desired, whereupon the rod 19 may again be pulled outwardly until the cam roller 95 drops into the low s 0t 97 on the cam surface 96, causing the arm 3 and the switch 78 to again assume the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, which completes the circuit 106, and the rack member 30 will resume its travel leftwardly until its extreme leftward position is reached, as before described,

Although I have herein described only one complete embodiment of my invention, it should be understoodthat -I am aware that various features of my invention might be changed and numerous embodiments thereof might be devised without departing from the spirit and the scope of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

v 1. In a coin operated time switch, the combination of: an electric circuit; means for initially closing said circuit, a switch operable to open and close said circuit; a timing mechanism operable when said circuit is closed, which mechanism includes a clock member having a driving gear, and a movable rack member adapted to be engaged by said driving gear, said rack member having a switch operating cam surface; cam means operably associated with said cam surface to open said switch at a predetermined time; and manually operated means for opening and closing said switch to interrupt and continue the operation of said timing mechanism.

52. In a coin operated time switch, the combination of: an electric circuit; a switch operable to open and close said circuit; a timing mechanism operable when said circuit is closed, which mechanism includes a 'clock member having a driving gear, and a movable racl: member adapted to be engaged by saiddriving gear, said iack member having a switch opera-ting cam surface; cam means operably associated with said cam surface to open said switch at a predetermined time; and a manually operated control mechanism operable for moving said rack member into engagement with said driving gear, and including means for opening and closing said switch to interrupt and continue the operation of said timing mechanism.

3. In a coin operated time switch the combination of: an electric circuit; a timing mechanism including a clock member having a driving gear, and a movable rack member adapted to engage and be moved by said driving gear for a predetermined time wnen said circuit is closed; a manually movable control rod adjacent said rack member and movable relative thereto; slot means adapted to position a coin in contact with bot-h said rack member and said control rod so thata movement of said control rod in one direction will cause said rack member to move into engagement with said driving gear; a switch in said circuit; means operably associated with said timing mechanism for opening said switch; and means operably associated with said control rod for opening and closing said switch to interrupt and continue the operation of said timing mechanism.

4. In a coin operated time switch, the combination of: an electric circuit; a switch operable to open and close said circuit; atiming mechanism operable when said circuit is' closed which mechanism includes aclockmemher having a driving gear, and a movable rack member adapted to be engaged by said driving gear, said rack member having a switch operating cam surface; cam means operably associated Wltl'l Sald cam surface to open said switch at a predetermined time; a manually operated control rod having a cam surface thereon; and cam means'associated with said cam surface on said control rod for opening and closing said switch to interrupt and continue the operation of said timing mechanism.

5. In "a coin operated time switch, the com bination of: an electric circuit; a switch mechanism including a mercury chamber containing a body of mercury adapted to complete said circuit when in a horizontal posit-ion and to break said circuit when positioned at an angle other than horizontal; a timing mechanism operable when said circuit is closed, which mechanism includes a clock member having a driving gear, and a movable rack member adapted to be engaged by said driving gear, said rack member having a switch operating cam surface; cam means operably associated with said cam surface and one end of said mercruyswitch to open said switch at a predetermined time; a manually operated control rod having a cam surface thereon; and cam means associated with said cam surface on said control rod and the other end of said mercury switch for opening "and closing said switch to interrupt and continue the operation of said timing mechanism.

6. In a coin operated time switch, the combination of: an electric circuit; atiming mechanism including a clock member having a driving gear, and a movable rack member adapted to engage and be moved by said driving gear for a predetermined time when said circuit is closed; a manually movable '95 control rod adjacent said rack member and movable relative thereto; slot means adapted to position a coin in contactwith both said rack member and said control rod so that a movement of said control rod in one direction will cause said rack member to move into engagement with said driving gear; a switch mechanism including a mercury chamber containing a body of mercury acapted to complete said circuit when in a horizontal position and to break said circuit when posi tioned at an angle other than horizontal;

means operably associated with said timing ins mechanism for changing the position of said I I mercury switch to open said circuit; and means operably associated with said control rod for changing th position of said men cury switch to open and close said circuit to interrupt and continue the operation of said timing mechanism.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 2d dayof June, 1930.

FRANK C. GALLAND. 

